Statistics on Substance Abuse in the LGBTQ+ Community
Here are some startling facts that shed light on the profound difficulties of being LGBTQ+ in our culture:
- Nearly 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ Americans have a substance use disorder (SUD)
- 7.6 million LGBTQ+ people have both a mental illness and/or a SUD
- Members of the LGBTQ+ community experience higher rates of SUDs compared to the population as a whole— approximately 20% compared to 9%, respectively.
- 37.6% of the LGBTQ+ community uses marijuana vs.16% of the general population
- 9% misuse opioids vs. 3% of the general community
Many factors contribute to higher substance use among LGBTQ+ people, including the stress of social stigma, fears of being rejected by family members, and discrimination in the workplace. Many studies have found that when compared to cisgender and heterosexual groups, LGBTQ+ members have experienced higher levels of trauma, including school victimization, hate crimes, family conflict, and other stressful childhood experiences. Our LGBTQ+ treatment center in Los Angeles provides the resources needed to address these types of trauma.
LGTBQ+ Treatment Options at Profound Treatment in Los Angeles:
At our LGBTQ+ treatment center in Los Angeles, we celebrate and protect the LGBTQ+ community. We provide evidence-based care that allows people who identify as LGBTQ+ to move through residential detox, inpatient programs, and vocational training in a way that addresses their unique challenges.
We offer treatment modalities like psychosomatic therapy, motivational interviewing, and cognitive-behavioral therapy to help LGBTQ+ members learn to cope with the stressors and trauma they may have endured, like homophobia, transphobia, family problems, violence, social isolation, and being forced to live a closeted lifestyle.
We have 5 different locations for clients to choose from, with 6 beds at each center. We offer private rooms for LGBTQ+ clients, if they prefer the extra privacy. Importantly, we have licensed therapists (instead of just case managers and counselors) to ensure our staff can hold space for all that comes up in treatment. Our therapists have more insight and training into working with people of all communities.
We also understand that recovery doesn’t stop once treatment does. We have business relationships with IOPs and sober livings in the area that cater to the LGBTQ+ community, which have proven to be safe places for all our former clients.
Substance Use Treatment Options for LGBTQ+ Individuals
LGBTQ+ members may fear rejection or abuse at a traditional treatment program, but studies have shown that LGBTQ+ individuals seek help for mental health disorders at a higher rate than their heterosexual counterparts. At Profound, our substance abuse treatment centers are designed to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in a safe environment. We understand the need for affirming, nonjudgmental treatment plans that address the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals.